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Corbin Times-Tribune - 7.21.26 · Eastern Kentucky Newspapers

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Speaker 1: Now we turn to the reading of The Times Tribune
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for news in Corbyn, Laurel, Whitley and Knox County. Your
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reader today is Janice as a reminder. Radio I as
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a reading service intended for people who are blind or
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have other disabilities that make it difficult to read printed material,
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will begin with the E addition dated July sixteenth, twenty
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twenty six. Our first article is Community Honors Major Leslie
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Leatherman with bridge dedication by Macy Swofford, London. While the
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devastating tornado that tore through Laurel County in May of
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twenty twenty five will forever remain a painful peace of
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the community's history, so too will the selfishness and sacrifice
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shown by Major Leslie Roger Leatherman in its darkest moments.
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More than a year after Leatherman lost his life while
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shielding his wife Michelle from deadly storm. From the deadly storm,
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family members, friends, fellow first responders, local officials and community
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members gathered last week last Wednesday morning at the London
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Laurel Farmer's Market to honor the man described as a
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public servant, mentor and hero. The foe Pardon me through
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Senator Senate Joint Resolution twenty seven, sponsored by Senator Brandon Storm,
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Republican London, the bridge on Kentucky three sixty three over
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the interstate seventy five was officially dedicated as the Last
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Leatherman Memorial Bridge in recognition of Leatherman's decades of service
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and the sacrifice he made on the night of May
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sixteenth and seventeenth, twenty twenty five. Today we remember a
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man whose life was defined by service, courage, and sacrifice,
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Storm said during the dedication ceremony. This bridge served as
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a lasting reminder of Major Bless Leatherman's selfish, self pardony,
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selfless dedication to others. Leatherman spent nearly four decades serving
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the Laurel County Fire Department, where he rose to the
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rank of major, while also dedicating his life to emergency
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services across the region. According to the resolution read during
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the ceremony, Leatherman served as an emergency medical technician, emergency
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dispatcher for Laurel County and Kentucky State Police, assistant director
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of the Whitley County nine to one one Center, and
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a fire rescue instructor for the Kentucky Fire Commission. Rocky
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Atkins Senior advisor to Governor Andy Basheer, said the pardon
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me said, the dedication insures Leatherman's legacy will continue to
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be remembered by generations to come. Honor it is to
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pay tribute to a well lived life. Atkins said, everything
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I've heard from the mouths of people who live in
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this community and those who served with him in his
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fire department, they all say the same thing, that he
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was an outstanding public servant, somebody who was on call
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that people cared about, and somebody that was in it
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for the right reasons. Atkins reflected on the destruction left
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behind by the tornadoes that struck Laurel County and surrounding areas,
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but said Wednesdays ceremony served as a reminder that Leatherman's
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legacy extends far beyond the tragedy of that night. As
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younger people passed that sign and asked who was this individual?
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It gives this community a way to remember a legacy
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of unbelievable service for generations to come. Atkins said. Chance McPeak,
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chairman of the Laurel County Fire Department, said anyone who
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knew Leatherman knew he never sought recognition for himself, making
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the moment both meaningful and bittersweet for those who served
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alongside him. Anybody that knew last would know he'd probably
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be aggravated if he knew we were standing here in
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his honor making a big deal out of him, McPeek said,
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But I can't think of anybody that would be more deserving.
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McPeek described Leatherman as more than just a firefighter or instructor,
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saying that he was a friend to nearly everyone who
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came through the department. Anybody that served at the Laurel
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County Fire Department in the last thirty nine years of
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our over sixty year existence didn't just know less. They
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were friends with LEAs McPeak said, he was a great person,
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and he took training very seriously, and we all miss
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him at the fire department. He added that Leatherman was
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the kind of person who preferred to work quietly behind
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the scenes rather than be recognized publicly for what he did.
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He wasn't someone who sought recognition at all. McPeak said.
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This was somebody that was behind the scenes, teaching, noring,
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and responding to calls and just doing the work. He
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wanted to do what needed to be done. And get
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back to his family. During the ceremony, McPeak read the
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language of Senator Joint Senate Joint Resolution twenty seven, which
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details Leverman's career and the circumstances surrounding his death. The
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resolution states that Leverman was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, friend,
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and public servant, and that his death deeply impacted the
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community of local emergency responders who looked up to him
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as a mentor, instructor, and compassionate friend. The resolution further
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states that Leverman's selfishness lacks exemplified the highest ideals of
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public service and sacrifice of others, even under the most
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dangerous conditions, will never be forgotten. Atkins said that to him,
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Leatherman's life was the very definition of public service. The
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definition of public service to me is pretty simple. Get
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up every day and try to find a way to
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help somebody or try to find a way to make
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a community better place. Atkins said, I think that's a
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definition of major less Weathermen. And underneath this there are
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two pictures. The caption under the first picture says, the
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family of less Weatherman take a photo with the official
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Less Leatherman Memorial Bridge sign alongside first responders and local officials,
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and then under the next picture it says Whitley County
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Judge Executive Pat White and Whitley County Detention Center Office
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Manager Felicia Fohr, alongside members of the London Fire Department
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attend the Bridge dedication ceremony in honor of Major Las Latherman.
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Our next article is five K for MK Community rallies
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behind Millie Kate and fundraiser by Macy Swafford Corbyn. Hundreds
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of community members came together in downtown Corbin last Saturday
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morning for the five K for MK, a fundraiser supporting
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Millie Kate Daughtery in her family as she battles defuge
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eccentric pone time cly Giloma the DIPG, a rare and
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aggressive childhood brained cancer. The event featured a five k
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run and walk beginning at eight am on Depot Street,
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followed by the Children's Depot Dash in nine thirty a m.
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Following the event, organizer Jillian Page expressed gratitude to the volunteers,
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sponsors and supporters who made the fundraiser possible. Our hearts
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are so full and I don't think I'll ever find
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the right words to thank everyone who made the five
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K for MK such an incredible day, Page wrote in
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a social media post. She thanked the many volunteers who
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showed up early, stayed late, and worked so hard behind
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the scenes, along with sponsors whose generosity helped transform an
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idea into something much bigger than we ever imagine. Paige
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said the event demonstrated the strength of the community as
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people united around Millie Kate and her family. We witness
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an entire community wrapped their arms around Milly Kate's family
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and love on our suite MK in the most beautiful way,
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she wrote. We will never forget seeing so many people
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come together with one purpose to support our girl. She
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also extended a special thank you to Robin Woods, Petrie
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and Tyler Harris for donating their time and race experience.
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Venders on site for the event were ice Cream for
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Limb and Twisteds Sisters Lemonade. The fundraiser was created to
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raise awareness of the DIPG while helping ease the financial
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burden on the Daughtery family as Milly Kate undergoes treatment.
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Organizers said all proceeds from the event will go directly
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towards supporting the family during their journey to help support
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the recovery process of Milly. Donations can be made through
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a go fund me and there is a pit two
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pictures and underneath the first picture it says Milly Kate
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alongside her parents Alison, Daughtery and Samuel Daughtry led the
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runners along the five k route. And then the other
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one it says a large group of runners took part
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in the five K for MK held in downtown Corbin.
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Our next article is Barberville's City Council discusses employee pay
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and garbage rates by Anya James Barbarville. Barbarvale's City Council
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approved the first readings of the Ordnance addressing employee pay,
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classifications and sanitation rates during its regular monthly meeting last
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Thursday at Barberville City Hall. Mayor David Thompson called the
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meeting to order before asking those in attendance to observe
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a moment of silence for Lila Asher and Jaden's Hell,
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two young girls who were killed in June. Following the
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invocation and the pledge of allegiance, council members unanimously approved
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the minutes from the June tenth special meeting. Play pay
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class classification updated Council approved the first reading of the
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Ordinance twenty twenty six six, which amends the city's positions
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including parks employees, police pardon me police supervisors, patrol officers,
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police recruits, police dispatchers, and laborers. City officials said that
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updated classification plans follows Kentucky's best practices by organizing the
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employee compensation along according to job descriptions, responsibilities, skills, and experience,
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while providing the framework for future performance based on pay adjustments.
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The ordinance received unanimous approval on its first reading. Garbage
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collection rates to increase. Council also unanimously approved the first
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reading of Ordnance Number twenty twenty six seven, within increases
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commercial and residential garbage collection fees. Under the proposal, commercial
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collection rates will increase from nineteen to nineteen dollars to
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twenty two dollars per month, while residential service will crease
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from fourteen dollars to seventeen dollars per month for twice
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weekly pickup. Mayor Thompson said the adjustment is necessary because
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the city's sanitation department has been operating at a loss.
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We're losing over six thousand dollars on garbage Thompson said,
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noting that the city has delayed increasing rates for several
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years but could no longer absorb the deficit. The ordinance
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will require a second reading before taking effect. Health insurance
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expanded for council members. Council unanimously voted to extend the
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option of city health insurance coverage through all council members
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beginning with the next election. Elected. Council official said three
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current council members already received the benefit, while three do not.
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The policy change will allow each future council member to
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decide whether to participate in the city's insurance plan. Shooting
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Range lease approved. Council also authorized Mayor Thompson to sign
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a lease agreement for the city's shooting range after receiving
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a nine to one one address for the property. Officials
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said the city's responsibility under the agreement including maintaining the
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access road and providing an electrical service to the facility.
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Department heads provide. Fire Chief Doug Dozer reported that the
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department responded to seventy emergency calls during the month, including
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five five pardoning, including five fire alarms, and two vehicle extraditions.
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Dozer also announced that July thirty, first will be his
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final day as fire chief after fifty years of service,
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he said, members of the fire department and voted to
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recommend Winston Tye as his successor. Mayor David Thompson thanked
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Dozer for his service to the City of Barberville and
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wished him well in retirement. Police Chief Adam Townsley reported
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that Barberville Police Department headed four hundred and twenty six
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calls for service, investigated eleven traffic accidents, and made twenty
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four arrest involving ninety one criminal charges, and completed seventeen
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directed patrols during the reporting period. Townsley also addressed the
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June sixth double homicide involving two young girls, explaining the
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fire expartment explaining the department conducted an internal review following
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the incident to ensure officers were offered support services after
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responding to the tragic scene, and re reported that they
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are doing well. City officials also received updates on several
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ongoing infrastructure projects, including work associated with the k CEOC
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building renovation. Officials said engineers continue evaluating structural issues involving
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a brick wall discovered during demolition, delaying portions of the project.
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While the city awaits Environmental Protection Agency approval for a
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change order. Street Department Superintendent Jason Lake reported crews installed
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four hundred and sixty feet of storm drain, completed paving work,
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replaced stop signs and street signs throughout the city, trim
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trees overhanging sidewalks, and are preparing to repair sidewalks on
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Johnson Lane and Liberty Street. Police Department tattoo policy discussed.
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Council members discussed the Barberville Police Department's policy regarding tattoos
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below the elbow. After questions were raised by perspective applicants.
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Chief Townsley explained that the restriction is part of the
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department's internal personnel policy rather than a city ordinance. He
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said the department is already working to update the policy,
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but wants to ensure the language is appropriate before making
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any changes. Townsley said he has no objection to officers
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having visible tattoos, provide that they are not offensive or inappropriate.
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I don't have issues with tattoos below the elbows, Townsley said,
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it just depends on what that tattoo is. He said
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the department is reviewing policies from other agencies and working
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with legal Counsel before presenting revised language. Mayor Thompson voted
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his support for the approach, saying the department is handling
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the issue correctly by carefully reviewing other agencies policies before
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implementing any changes. Residents raise concern about Liberty Street during
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the public comment portion of the meeting. Representations, Representatives from
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pt pro's Physical Therapy voice concerns about traffic flow on
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Liberty Street following recent construction near the KCEOC project. Employees
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said many of their patients have mobility limitations and rely
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on clear sight lines when pulling onto Knox Street. City
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officials said they are working with Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to
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evaluate whether the street can be reopened safely and whether
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a traffic signal or a stop sign could be appropriate
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once construction is complete. Mayor Thompson noted that state transportation
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officials are expected to meet with the city to discuss
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future traffic control options at the intersection. Local theater group
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headed to New York Before entering executive session, Mayor Thompson
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announced that three performers from the Tri County Mystery Meets
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Theater group will soon perform in New York City. He said.
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Additional details about the performance will be announced in coming weeks.
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Following the regular business meeting, council entered executive session to
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discuss appointment of personnel. No action was taken before adjournment.
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And there is a picture of this meeting and underneath
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it is says Barbaraville's City Council members call the meeting
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to order. Our next article is man sentenced to twenty
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eight years in Whitley County methamphetamine case by Macy Swafford. Williamsburg,
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a Whitley County man, has been sentenced to twenty eight
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years in prison after being convicted of multiple drug related charges.
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According to the Office of Commonwealth Attorney Ronnie Bowling, Roger Johnson,
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fifty nine, Williamsburg, pleaded guilty July eighth in Whitley's Circuit
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Court of manufacturing meth and fhetamine, tracking in methamphetamine, and
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being a first degree persistent felony offender. The case was
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prosecuted by Assistant Commonwealth Attorneys John Reynolds and Josh Price.
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Johnson was found to be operating an active meth and
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fetamine lab and was in possession of Finnish meth amphetamine
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that investigators determined was intended for sale. According to last
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week's release, the investigation was conducted by Williamsburg Police Chad
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Williamsburg Police, Chad Foley, ed Eddie Kane, Elijah Hunter, and
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Johnny Fulton. With the conviction, Whitley Circuit Court Judge Dan
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Belue sentenced Johnson to twenty eight years in prison. Manufacturing
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methmphetamine is extremely detrimental to our community, dangerous to neighbors
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and occupants of houses, and destroys lives. Commonwealth Attorney Ronnie
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Bowling's said it has largely gone by the wayside with
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infiltration of professionally made math, but math labs will always
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be aggressively prosecuted. The next article is Corbyn man pleads
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not guilty in South Laurel stabbing investigation by Macy Swafford
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and Janie Slavin, London. A Corby man is facing multiple
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felony charges following his Monday night arrest in connection to
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a South Laurel stabbing over the weekend. Joseph Middleton, nineteen,
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was arrested at ten point fifty pm Monday on Laurel
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District Complaint warrant charging him with first degree assault and
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first degree burglary. According to the Laurel County Sheriff's Office,
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Middleton is one of three suspects to have been identified
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in connection with the stabbing that left one person seriously
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injured this weekend at a motel in southern Laurel County.
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According to Laurel County s Sheriff's Office. In an update
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released Monday, the Sheriff's office said investigators were able to
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identify the suspects after receiving numerous tips from the public.
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As a result of numerous tips from the public, information
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was developed by Sheriff's investigators and three suspects have been
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successfully identified. Warrants are being attained for these individuals and
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arrested are expected soon, the Sheriff's office said in its statement.
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According to the Sheriff's Office, the incident in a curve
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at approximately three point thirty two pm Sunday at a
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motel in southern Laurel County. The victim suffered serious injuries
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in what investigators described as a parent stabbing. Since the incident,
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the Sheriff's office has been asking for the public's assistance
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in identifying three individuals captured on surveillance footage, along with
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a possible vehicle believed to have fled the scene. According
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to the Sheriff's Office, information provided by the public led
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investigators to successfully identify the suspects. As of Tuesday afternoon,
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the department confirmed that more arrests are expected. Middleton was
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launched in the Laurel County Correctional Center in lieu of
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fifty thousand dollars bond. According to online court records, he
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pleaded not guilty at arraignment in Laurel District Court Wednesday morning.
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Middleton's preliminary hearing has been scheduled for next Tuesday morning.
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Investigation is being led by Laurel County Sheriff's Office Detective
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Sergeant Taylor McDaniel, with assistance from Captain Richard Dalrypple. Our
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next article is NOx Whitley Humane Association highlights fundraising efforts
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Orbin Rotary Club by Anya James Corbin. Members of the
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Corbyn Rotary Club learned about the ongoing work of the
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Knox Whitley Humane Association and growing need to address pet
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overpopulation during the club's weekly meeting last Thursday. Rotary Club
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president Melissa Finley opened the meeting before introducing guest speakers.
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Jason mcquitt, a volunteer and event coordinator for the Knox
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Whitley Humane Association, and Kay Short, who serves with the
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organization and provided operational statistics throughout the presentation. Macat said
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he became involved with the shelter after returning to Corbin
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about fifteen years ago, and admitted he knew very little
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about the animal welfare before volunteering. Through his work with
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the shelter, he said he learned that education surrounding spain
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and neutering is one of the most effective ways to
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reduce the numbers of homeless animals in southeastern Kentucky. One
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animal that isn't spade or neutered can quickly lead to
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expotential population growth. Macquat said if people were responsible and
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have their pets spade and neutered, he wouldn't need an
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animal shelter to help old combat overpopulation. Macquat said the
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Knox Whitley Humane Association hosts several fund raising events each
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year to help offset the cost of spay and neuter
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procedures for pet owners who may not otherwise be able
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to afford them. The organization's largest upcoming fundraiser, the Gala
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for Paws, will be held this Saturday, July eighteenth, at
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six pm at the Oak Hill Gardens in London. Tickets
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are fifty dollars per person and include dinner catered by
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Local Honey, as well as beer, wine and specialty cocktail.
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Mac raised several local businesses. Praised several local businesses by
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for supporting the event, including Oak Hill Gardens, which donated
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use of its venue, and Local Honey, which discounted its
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catering services to help maximize proceeds for the shelter. Guests
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will also have the opportunity to participate in a silent
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auction featuring donated items and experiences from businesses throughout the region.
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Auction offerings include a week long stay at Heltonhead Island,
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a twelve hour pontoon rental at Holly Bay, and a
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rare bottle of bourbon, restaurant packages, movie and bowling passage passes,
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camping gear, and other locally donated items. Macquatt emphasized that
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all proceeds remain in the local community. When you support
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a local charity, you know exactly where the money goes.
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He said, every dollar stays here and helps local animals.
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During a question and an answer session, answered several topics,
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including national animal welfare advertising campaigns, Kentucky animal welfare laws,
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and shelter operations. Responding to a question about television commercials
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from national organizations, Macquette said he believes many advertisements focus
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heavily on suffering animals, but failed to show that positive
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outcomes made possible through donations. I'd rather people see the
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success stories, he said, show people where their donations go
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and the lives that they change. He also explained Kentucky
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law does not prohibit dogs from being kept outdoors on
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chains provided owners supply adequate food, water, and shelter. However,
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he encouraged anyone who witnessed neglect to contact act local
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local animal control authorities. Short answered several questions regarding the
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capacity of intake numbers. He said the shelter can house
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approximately one hundred animals at a time, but regularly receives
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far more than that. During the month of May alone,
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the shelter accepted approximately one hundred and forty dogs, including
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about forty stray dogs. Short explained that Kentucky law requires
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shelter to hold stray animals for at least five days
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before additional steps can be taken. Unless an animal is
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suffering from severe medical issues. He also noted that the
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shelter works with numerous rescue organizations to transfer animals whenever possible,
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but continues to face significant pardon me, significant challenges because
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of the sheer number of owner's surrenders and stray animals
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entering the facility. I Quat shared several examples of neglected
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Anima animals the shelter has helped rehabilitate, including dogs abandoned
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in the Long Interstate seventy five and others rescued from
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severe abuse or neglect. He said, seeing animals recover and
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eventually find loving homes has become one of the most
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rewarding aspects of volunteering. This concludes the reading of the
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Times Tribune. Please stay tuned for continued programming. Thank you
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for joining me and on behalf of everyone here at RADIOI.
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This is Janice, wishing you a very good day.